"And in other news, it looks like it might be a white Christmas after all this year, Kay has more with the weather," "Back live in 45 seconds!" a voice chimes in the background. I throw my fake notes to the side and reach out under the desk to grab your knee. "How are you doing? Are you ok?!" I whisper. "hoooo, y..yeah.. yeah.. no," you reply with sweat visibly beading up across your brow, gritted teeth and a cast iron grip on your cue cards. "ughhhh, the pressure.. oh my god. It's building fast.." "Oh my god, I can't believe you talked me into this. We have three more segments live at the desk and then we're cutting live to the PM to finish the show. We have to call this off, our baby can't arrive on Live TV.." "nhuuuuuuurghhhhh, n—NO! Not yet, close out the show, then we go to the hospital.. it's not far..." "Oh my god, this is crazy, we're back in.. 20 seconds! Right, fine. It's too late now anyway, lets get through these 8 minutes and then DASH across the road."
"Yeah, easy hoooo, nothing too it, just 8 more minutes to hold....Oooooon! Ughhhhhh NO NO NOPE. IMPOSSIBLE. I Can't. I can't do it, this baby is coming right NOW!" "EIGHT!" "SEVEN!" "SIX!" "No no no. Too late, we're going live right now," I whisper, watching your panicked grimace strain into a a professional newsreader smile. "we're committed now, stay calm, stay professional, and do.not.push!" The floor manager holds up four fingers next to the camera. Then three, then two, then one.
“W-Welcome back. T-thanks K-Kay for the weather report.” I stuttered. The contraction still held me in its vice, my bump now a solid rock beneath the table. It took all my willpower to keep my breathing steady and words even, my smiling expression forced for the camera. I gripped the table, knuckles white as the wave peaked and I couldn’t help but part my knees a little more under the desk.
The next segment was a lifestyle one, some new kitchen aid gadget had been released and one of our regular tv personality’s had brought it in for a demonstration. Mercifully it wasn’t scripted and you took the lead in asking all the questions. It was a good thing too because the contractions were now almost on top of one another.
As the guest was running through a full demonstration to both us and the camera I felt another surge of pressure. My legs shot apart beneath the desk, my knee colliding with yours and you gave me a look. Don’t push your eyes screamed.
I leant forward on my stupidly high bar stool where we were hosting, resting on elbow on the desk while my other hand clutched my contracting womb. My face ached from the forced feigned smile of interest at the fancy new appliance. I wasn’t listening, I couldn’t. I was panting under my breath hoping to god it wasn’t being picked up on my the microphones.
Four minutes… five minutes… this segment felt like it was lasting an eternity. The pressure was relentless; no break, no gaps between, just a steady urgency gathering speed with every squeeze of my muscles.
The producer whispered in my ear “Are you okay?” Having noticed my silence all segment. I gave the smallest of nods, but I was far from alright.
The thought of pushing had rapidly transformed from a desire to a primal need. It was unwavering and absolute. You were speaking with the guest presenter when I gave that first testing push - only a small one, no real strength behind it, but I couldn’t NOT push anymore. The boulder of our baby’s head was so low, grinding and pressing against my cervix, my muscles clenched automatically around it and I beared down steadily.
God it felt good to push. Holding back had become excruciating and the relief of actually bearing down was almost euphoric.
With the next two contractions I was pushing. Legs wide under the table, fingers clawing at the edge of the desk, I pushed hard towards the cushion of my seat. You didn’t notice at first. I was beside you, sweating but still smiling professionally in front of the camera. No one knowing that with my clenched teeth I was actively pushing. But when the segment was over and we had to return to the autocue script, that was when you noticed.
“N-Next up… ughhhh… we have an—oh god— exclusive interview w-with one of the w-winners at last night’s L-Logie Awards—nnnghhh…”
My words were obviously strained, my breathing heavy as I tried to stop my body pushing but by the end of the sentence I was bearing down automatically. I gripped your hand, squeezing tight, a silent plea for you not to announce what was happening while we were live on air.
Producers were shouting in my earpiece, camera operators were peering around the lenses with questioning and concerned looks. Another grunting push happened before I could stop it and I didn’t hear you announce the unplanned commercial break.
“We’re taking you to hospital babe, now.” You said standing from the stool and wrapping an arm around me.
“N-No… I’m f-fine… I can h-hold it…” I tried to say but the guttural pushing sound coming from deep in my chest begged to differ.
“For fucks sake. Darling you’re pushing, we need to get you out of here now.”
You guided me off of the chair and the second my high heels met the floor the change in gravity shifted inside my womb and the dam suddenly broke. Fluid pooled on the hardwood floor with a splash and I gasped at the sudden release of pressure.
“M-my waters…”
“Yes… baby is coming. Now let’s go.”
But the release of amniotic fluid allowed the baby to drop further and I bent over gripping the tall desk. “Ohhhhh god… it’s coming… I can’t m-move… I need… I need to push….” I cried out.
My stance widened as far as my pencil skirt allowed and leaning against the table I gave an almighty guttural push. Immediately I felt the head breach my cervix and slide low into the birth canal, pressing dangerously close to the outside world.
“Shit…. I think I can feel the head?…”




















